</lj-embed>

The first video is the destruction of the cooling tower at Yongbyon. Pretty cool hey? The second is the new City and Colour clip for Sleeping Sickness. Also pretty cool.

Seeing as I generally have been too tired/unmotivated to post anything substantial recently, I'm just going to list the reading I have/am/plan on getting done over the next couple of weeks. I would do amazon links like everyone else seems to do, but you can do that yourself.

Thomas Frank: Whats the Matter with Kansas. I read it for Uni, but interesting and probably worth reading independent of that anyway. If your interested in US domestic politics.

Graham Greene: The Quiet American. A really good novel, his melding of the personal and political is excellent.  

Joseph Heller: Catch 22.

Rudyard Kipling: Kim.

Securing our Survival (SOS) from IPPNW/ICAN etc. I need to read this for my placement in a few weeks. Its seems really interesting, and also very relevant. Als o some prominent names involved in its writing.

Eric Hobsbawm: The Age of Extremes. Also for Uni, but I have read a little Hobsbawm before and he seems really good.  

Hopefully post something more soon.

Out of the frying pan and in to the fire. Last exam was yesterday, and I started into full time work today, apparently. So the plan for more active posting may not come to full fruition. I do still plan for some blogging, and hopefully it will be better than this post. (Hey, it is Friday, I'm allowed to be shit).

The video is The Weakerthans 'Watermark'. Their new album doesnt have the same power as previous efforts, so check out their back catalogue if your interested. 

Another video from GetUp! 

I kind of don't want to bury my post on Rudd's nuclear commission just yet, but it is Friday. 

In a virtual footnote in this article in todays Age, it is hinted at that Australia may pull out of the Globla Nuclear Energy partnership. Science Minister Jim Carr has apparently comfirmed that "cabinet would soon consider the Government's attitude to remaining part of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership." Australia signed up under Howard, and it is a controversial program, essentially designed to stop the spread of enrichment and reprocessing technology beyond the current fuel cycle states, for the purposes of non-proliferation. Read their strategic plan here. It also aims to ensure a secure fuel garuntee (a big issue) and make the most out of nuclear energy reserves. It also therefore maintains the two-tiered nuclear technology system that I have mentioned before. 

The clip above is Clann Zu's 'Crashing to the Floor' from their debut Rua. They were an amazing (semi)Melbourne band that broke up a few years ago. The animation is by the lead singer, also check out the video for '5000 more'. 

Therefore time for a half-arsed post on disparate subjects that will only really interest me. 

First of all, a quick comment on Rudd's new Asia-Pacific intergovernmental organisation idea. Clearly the EU analogy is purely that, because that sort of structure is unrealistic. The idea sounds good at first thought, as the current world bodies, such as APEC or ASEAN, are not very effective in outcomes and promoting wider cooperation. But is Rudd really blaming the international architecture when the real problem is a lack of political will? Linked to this, it seems way too optimistic that the US, China, Japan and India will all agree to be subject to an international body with real power over them. 

Some links. The latest IAEA report on Iran, in case you hadn't had a look yet. The final text of the Cluster munitions convention. Tom Gabel from Against Me! also has his own blog, I feel sick to my stomach, hopefully he keeps it up. 

The video above is Soobax, by Somali refugee K'naan. I was going to put the awesome 'In the beginning' up, but there are no good videos. Enjoy.

The First is the City and Colour show at Soundwave that I was stupid enough to miss (the soundquality is better in this one than others). the second is Phil Ochs in his prime: I aint marchin' anymore. Two seriously talented artists, if in differing ways.

I plan on having a substantial post tommorrow, probably mention the IAEA report on Iran, which ISIS has leaked (of course). also sme thoughts on the Dublin conference. Mayvbe also a comment on my continuing love of Christopher Hitches (pre-Iraq).

By the way, Indiana Jones was awesome, as expected. I was sceptical, but on the inside I always knew I would love it. 

Also, If you want some amusement, watch Charlie the Unicorn one and two. Weird and hilarious.

This is a video from the Cluster Munitions Coalition, which works to ban cluster bombs. The conference is on right now until the end of May in Dublin negotiating. The startingpoint for negotiations was established at the Wellington Cluster Munitions conference earlier this year, and you can find the draft treaty there.

Australia is one of the states who aims to water down the outright ban on cluster bombs. This is done through attempts to introduce exceptions for bombs with self destruction or neutralisation features (such as Australia's purchased SMArt 155 artillery shells) . All cluster bomb manufacturers claim their weapons are guarunteed to explode or work in this way, so personally, I'll believe this part when I see it. Australia also wants to make it possible to work alongside and benefit from other state's force's that do use cluster munitions, such as our lovely allies the USA. 

Its funny to look at the states that support modifying the treaty in such a way (mostly Europeans, Japan, Canada and Australia) are opposing the developing world states where cluster munitions are actually most likely to be used.

Hopefully we can follow the way of the ottawa convention banning landmines. Cluster bombs do not discriminate, and always have a disproportionally high rate of harming civilians and children. They often effectively become anti-personel landmines, remaining dangerous a lot longer than the conflict itself.

Hopefully the dickheads Smith and Fitzgibbon will do the right thing and push for a full comprehensive ban. And maybe Australian newspapers will pick some of this up.

You can sign an Australian petition here. And MAPW has a link to a factsheet here.

 Adam West tells it as it is. (the old Batman was so much cooler than the new ones are)

(via)

I saw these guys last night and it was awesome. I even caught Warren's drum stick! 

Against Me! are one of the best bands out there, and they come to Melbourne pretty much every year! I'll be there again next year.

This recent Syria-North Korea reactor story is quite intriguing for a number of reasons, but its come at just the wrong time for me to really take a good look at it like I want to. This is the presentation shown to members of Congress a couple of days ago. The full text of the briefing can now be downloaded here.

Back when Israel bombed the facility, there was much discussion over what it was that they actually destroyed. Now it appears the off-the-record claim that it was a reactor is true. This still doesnt answer many of the questions raised at the time, and also pushes aside the fact that it was still an illegal attack on another state. Its not the first time Israel has taken a preemptive/preventative strike against an Arab neighbour. 

Theres a whole lot of technical issues involved with this, and for that I recommend the ArmsControlWonk. Not only are the posts good, but the comments are also useful. 

There are alot of serious questions on the validity of the evidence presented, and it is slightly reminiscent of Colin Powell's famous presentations to the UN a few years ago. 

Looking at the Photos, where is the rest of the infrastructure that you would think would surround a nuclear reactor? The only thing there is the reactor building. I would also expect at least some security at the facility, maybe even some AA guns, as the Syrians would have to be suspecting Israeli action if it was a reactor. There is also no evidence of a reprocessor. If your going to have a nuclear program, with a reactor this small, you would think a reprocessor would also be on the cards.

Also, where is the fuel going to come from? Is there evidence of any nuclear material transfers?

The IAEA is understandably pissed off about only hearing about this now, and realistically, why weren't they told? The threat was hardly immediate, with any nuclear fuel at least several years away, and not even any substantial evidence of a nuclear weapons program outside of this plant. The normal way to go about this sort of thing is through the IAEA, a technical/scientific approach to the problem of proliferation. They have the ability to conduct a challenge inspection, which is the route that I think should have been taken. 

Another issue that keeps popping up, if all this is true,then why now? The claims of not wanting to instigate any counter-attacks are workable, but why release this in the middle of negotiations with the state you claimed supplied the technology? Seems counter-productive, but maybe thats exactly what its meant to be?

 

Last post I metioned Christopher Hitchens excellent No One Left to Lie to: The Triangulations of William Jefferson Clinton. This is an interview on Charlie Rose about the book and subsequesnt controversies. I would highly recommend it, especially in light of the fact that we have a presidential election right now featuring the Clintons. 

Hitchens argues that Clinton's personal immoral conduct, and his abuse of state power to do it and conceal it, make him a worthy target of the impeachment proceedings that occured, even if they did occur for slightly differing reasons. One of the main values of the work is to see a rational critique of Clinton, that doesnt come from a Clinton-hating right winger. I find it slightly strange that the Clintons do engender such hatred from conservatives, as Clinton carries through a lot of their policy positions. Equally strange is that many on the American left still like him.

I also happened to mention that I would like to see a critique of the Dalai Lama from someone such as Hitchens, and as fate would have it, he wrote one ten years ago! His Material Highness was written for Salon, and is rather short but sweet. Hitchens rightly criticises Buddhism as a religion not that different from more negatively percieved religions as Islam and Catholicism. The cult of reverance that has developed around Eastern religions is one that often fails to recognise that the pitfalls associated with all religions do in fact occur within all religions, including buddhism. Hitchens, as I did, criticises the feudal nature of Tibetan society and the role of the spritual elite in it. 

Organised religion, of any kind, has yet to prove itself as a good thing for humanity. And the leaders of such cults deserve the utmost scrutiny and criticism of their positions of power, just like anyone else in a position of power. Just because someone claims to have divine backing doesnt make them any less of a human, with all the personal curruptions that that can entail.  

On a lighter note, the article also highlighted the fact that action man himself, Steven Seagal, is officially a reincarnated Lama and sacred vessel within Tibetan Buddhism. What?

And people seriously worship this thing?

 I just came across this bizarre ad for French nuclear energy company Areva. It shows the energy process to the sounds of (non-pseudo echo) Funky Town.  Is that weird? I just laughed.

Also check out this one, presumably about reprocessing plutonium.

 

...or maybe not so different... 

Just as well I didnt actually have my money on a Coalition victory last night, because I was way off. Kevin Rudd looks set to hold a sizeable majority in the House of Reps, and its looking almost certain John Howard will lose Bennelong. 

God Damn! 

It was a bit of a party last night, but sadly enough that is mostly due to the identity of who's been kicked out, rather than who's going in. I eagerly await whats going to happen.


PS. I'm listening to the cast recording of 'Keating! The Musical'. Its awesome and coming back to Melbourne soon. I recommend you check it out.

 

Anyone who was watching the Grand Final a few eeks ago would have seen this fantastic ad. I dont know GetUp, but their ad hits the nail on the head.

I Just downloaded (I mean purchased...) the album. This song is pretty rockin', check it!

OK, so i just finished the movie ( Zeitgeist) and it was fantastic. Some of it got a little too conspiratorial, but overall the message was really positive and quite accessable.

The Film was divide dinto three parts, the first is on religion, the second focussing on 9/11 and the war on terror, and a third one focussed on the 'men behind the curtain', and bringing the whole thing together.

Part I. really interesting, but it didnt really relate to the rest of the movie, though a good film to watch even in isolation. documents the evolution of religion is different, ancient and modern, societies, and how essentially they are all the same. apparently Christianity s essentially just plagiarised from Egyptian pagan beliefs. eventually it related back mroe to the central tenet of the film, and how religion is used by those in power to control society.

Part II. began with a focus on September 11 theories. realistically i agree more with Chomsky on this issue, that conspiracy theories about 9/11 are essentially a distraction from the real issues of war and power. people in a position of power would probably encourage disscussion about conspiracy theories, as they can detract from the real discussions. Its more likely, and plausible, that the Bush administration and the US government more generally just didnt care about any large civilian targetted terror attacks rather than actively planned or were involved in them. 

But, with that said, this film certainly casts a huge net of suspicion over the whole case. The fact that at least six of the 9/11 hijackers are still alive is reason enough to doubt, and the documentary throws up a whole lot more interesting facts and observations of the case. not the leats of these is the role that september 11 can play in creating fear within the civilian population, and pushing forward a particular agenda.

Part III. began with a look at the whole system of central banking, and the cycle of debt that is associated with it. the central banking system established the rule of a small elite over the workings of government and the population (but then who controls the central bank, remember China?). The documentary shows the cycles of boom and engineered recession, and how the largest most powerful compainies and dynasties (Rockafeller features heavily) control and profit from these events.

"Give me control of a nations money supply, and I care not who makes it's laws"- MA Rothschild

clearly some of these parts are specifically relative to the USA, but the idea of big business and international finance controlling the state is not a new or unbelievable idea. The use of war as the most profitable business activity, and the role of business in actively seeking out war, was explored well. As was the collaborative role of corporations and big business in funding and profitting from both sides in WWII. (including Presscott Bush, grandad of the current Bush). The idea of the continuous war was raised, as Vietnam was used as an example of a war that was never meant to be won, just sustained. obviously this relates even better to the current war on terror, as this war doesnt even have the remote possibility of being won, as there arent even any identifiable enemies (beyond cliches and symbols) to defeat. This idea has been explored before, and even US presidents have kinda acknowledged it, in the idea of the military industrial complex espoused by Eisenhower. War fought on a continuous basis for economic over political reasons. The comparison to the Nazis is probably the most overused analogy in history, but it was actually used well (kinda) here, even if in a cliched way. 

Alot of the final section of the film has similar themes to 'Manufacturing Consent', with control of thought a prime weapon of those in power, and the only weapon necessary. the 'men behind the curtain' idea is good, but it gets too conspiratorial again when it gets to the ideas of 'world government' and planting identity chips in everybodies arms to monitor and control them. these may be ideas, but i dont think they would be readily argued by those in power on any rational basis, a bit too utopian i would think. although it also offers a scary vision of the future, and shows how that sort f future could readily become apparent with the decisions we make now (think the governments current proposed identity card). 

The film comes to a wanky ending with music and endless quotations, but overall, absolutely fantastic. i recommend it to anyone to watch. I will hopefully do a rough check of sources, as the website readily divulges them, and truth is to be discovered, not told!

Try it for yourself.